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A new idea is that if the latest dieting craze has no effect on you, it is because of your genes, say U.S scientists. When it comes to losing weight there are no universal diet plans, and different diets suit different people depending on the DNA in their chromosomes.

This means that while the latest 'hotly talked about' diet might help some people shed weight, it may well be useless for others.

Health experts also suggest that official weight loss advice may not help as many people as hoped. There seems to be too much generalization of health benefits or risks associated with certain diets.

However, a fascinating study carried out at the Texas A&M University showed that the impact of a diet is dependent on the genetic profile of an individual. This means that different people will have their own optimal diets.

During the study, scientists at the A&M University fed mice on one of five different diets for six months. The diets included:

A typical Western diet

A Mediterranean diet

A traditional Japanese diet

A high-fat, low-carbohydrate Atkins-style diet

Normal mouse food

But importantly, four different strains of mice were used in order to mimic the genetic differences in people with different genes.

All the mice were allowed to eat as much as they wanted, and their meals were made as realistic as possible. For instance, rice and green tea extract was part of the Japanese diet, and the Mediterranean diet included red wine extract.

Results showed that the health of the mice after six months varied widely. Some strains fared better on some foods than others. For instance, while a sugar-rich Western diet fuelled obesity, the severity of weight gain depended on the strain of the mouse. Indeed, one particular strain was practically immune to the 'bad' diet. Some mice were actually healthier on the Western diet than on the Atkins-style diet. That is welcome news.

It is highly likely that the diversity of diet response seen in this fascinating study also occurs in humans. For over a century we have assumed that there is only one optimum diet. That seems not to be the case if we can extrapolate the effects of diet on mice to humans. Both species are mammals anyway.

Perhaps one day it may be possible to identify the best diet for any individual simply by giving him or her a genetic test. For now, the results of this study should not be used as an excuse not to diet. Simply persevere, and if one diet fails, try another one.

Be open to changing one's diet if the desired results are not forthcoming, and do not listen to people telling you that 'such-and-such' a diet is good for you because it worked for them.

So yes, it looks like the real secret to successful weight loss is to find what works for you.

Many overweight people try dieting and usually fail to lose much weight. Some might lose weight but then find that it comes back with vengeance, and with extra pounds on top. Why?

It is due to having metabolic dysfunction, and many diets will increase it and make matters worse.

Calorie counting is an ineffective weight loss strategy. It fails over time because calories come from various food sources and therefore vary in how they influence metabolism. The result is metabolic dysfunction.

Starvation diets are the same; they deprive the body of vital nutrients and the dieter becomes sick.

Eating less and moving more will not prevent metabolic dysfunction either. Exercise alone will not work, but it helps when combined with healthy eating. Walking burns nearly three times more calories than sitting or standing. But if food of low nutrition is in the diet, the benefits of walking will be lost.

Calories are not created equal. Weight gain can be caused by eating metabolically harmful calories such as net carbohydrates, which is the total carbohydrates minus dietary fibre. The chief culprits are all forms of sugar and complex carbohydrates such as white potatoes and processed products.

The belief that all calories are the same has contributed to worsening health. It is one of the first things dietitians learn, and is completely wrong. Calories from processed foods containing fructose are typically harmful because of the amount of visceral fat that harmful sugar builds.

Fructose is an isocaloric and not an isometabolic sugar. Identical calorie counts from fructose and glucose, fructose and protein, or fructose and fat, affect the metabolism differently. There are different hormonal responses to different sugars which determine how much fat the body accumulates.

Studies show that calories from refined sugars and processed foods promote overeating, while calories from vegetables, protein and fibre reduce hunger.

One study found that as soon as 18 per cent of daily calorie intake from added sugar is reached, there is a 200 per cent increase in the risk of getting pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Today, due to widespread insulin and leptin resistance, the body's ability to burn fat as its primary fuel is impaired. Most people have impaired enzymes to burn fat.

Only when the body is adapted to burning fat as its primary fuel will it become efficient at burning calories derived from fat.

The thing is to dramatically cut sugar consumption. The body burns that first, but sugar makes the pancreas work too hard and causes insulin problems.

Intermittent fasting can help speed up the body's transition from burning sugar to burning fat as the primary energy source.

To lose weight, eat food as close to its natural state as possible. That includes healthy fats. Reduce intake of processed foods and sugar, and be active simply by walking.

For hair to be healthy and maintain its volume, shine and softness it needs to be nourished regularly with essential vitamins. Undernourishment will result in hair fall, split ends, dry, brittle and limp hair. Though there are many vitamin enriched tonics available over the counters each proclaiming to improve texture and growth, it is best to rely on natural methods to improve and maintain the quality of hair.

Hair Care Essentials

Hair is made up of approximately 95% proteins, so a high protein diet will benefit it by providing the right concentration of protein for healthy hair. A diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, proteins and a lot of water can go a long way in preventing hair damage. Fruits and vegetables provide hair with the vitamins and nutrients it requires to stay healthy and water keeps it hydrated and prevents it from becoming dry and brittle.

Head massage is also essential in maintaining the quality of hair. A gentle scalp massage using olive oil or pure coconut oil improves blood circulation and stimulates growth. The hair will remain healthy if these simple tips are followed.

Beneficial Vitamins and Nutrients

As mentioned above a healthy diet reflects in healthy hair. Here is a list of vitamins for hair growth and the nutrients that nourish it.

Vitamins

- Biotin - This belongs to the B complex family of vitamins. Biotin is found in eggs, nuts, liver and carrots and is essential for lustrous locks.

- Vitamin C - Citrus fruits are a rich source of this wonderful vitamin. Vitamin C keeps the scalp healthy and fights problems such as dandruff and promotes good hair growth.

- B complex - Most vegetables, cereals and meats contain some amount of B complex which is required for the overall health of the hair.

Minerals

- Zinc - The mineral encourages blood circulation which is vital for good hair. The natural sources of Zinc are cocoa, red meat and bran.

- Iron - Iron improves the haemoglobin count in the blood. Low haemoglobin count can result in hair fall. Foods rich in iron are green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale, and red meat especially organ meat like liver.

Amino Acids

- Phenylalanine - The amino acid is found largely in dairy products and nuts. It reacts with enzymes naturally present in the body and helps prevent premature greying by producing more melanin.

Protein

- Hair is made up primarily of protein. Eating high protein foods will promote healthy hair. Foods that are high in protein include red meat, eggs, lentils, poultry and fish.

How Vitamins and Nutrients Help

While changing the diet to meet the needs for good hair is important it is also crucial to understand how vitamins for hair and nutrients actually work.

- They work at nourishing the hair and are powerful in stimulating hair follicles to grow healthy hair.

- They quicken the pace at which hair re-grows.

- They effectively control hair fall and other hair problems.

- They can be especially beneficial to anyone suffering from hair loss.

A balanced diet can provide the right nutrients to the body which are required for good hair growth.

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It is not the pith of an apple that is good for you, it is the coloured SKIN which is the best part. The colours of apples indicate that when you eat the pigmented peripheral matter, you consume lots of antioxidants and phytochemicals.

It is because of this that you should never peel an apple. The peel is the most nutritious part of an apple.

Apples contain a sweet pulp surrounding the seeds (the pips). The fructose sugar contained in apple pulp is produced by apple trees in order to temp animals to eat the fruits and to gnaw down into the apple core.

There, in the core are the seeds, which some animals unwittingly swallow. The seeds easily survive transit through mammalian guts and end up in faeces.

A new apple tree may then hopefully grow.

Human faeces enter sewers and any apple seeds that have been ingested have no chance of ending up deposited on mineral-rich soil. Nevertheless, there are animals which assist in apple seed dispersal.

Apples contain vitamin C and small amounts of the B family of vitamins. They are also sources of vitamins A, K and E.

They contain little fat or cholesterol.

The main minerals in apples are calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium, with trace amounts of Iron and Manganese.

The main phytochemicals in apples are Beta carotene, Lutein and Zeaxanthin.

Apples also contain ample dietary fibre (both soluble and insoluble types). Fibre can help prevent the amount of bad cholesterol in blood from rising.

Apples are one of the most consumed fruits in the world and are in the top 10 healthy foods.

They help to reduce the risk of getting diabetes, although a study involving nearly 200,000 people found that the risk was lowered only by 7 per cent. And women are 28 per cent less likely to get diabetes if they eat an apple every day.

Apples also seem to be good for tackling obesity. In other words, they are good for losing the flab and weight.

The active ingredients of the apples varieties such as Braeburn, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, McIntosh and Red Delicious, were found to benefit beneficial gut bacteria of obese mice, with the bitter-tasting Granny Smith apples being the best.

Quercetin is one of the antioxidants found abundantly in apples. That can help the brain, and in the fight against Alzheimer's Disease.

Drinking apple juice may increase the production in the brain of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which can help to improve the memory. Tests on mice seem to confirm this.

Apples are thought to be good for reducing the development of certain types of cancer. Studies from the American Association Of Cancer Research have demonstrated that the high flavone content of apples contributed to reduction of pancreatic cancer cases by 23 per cent.

Fibre is essential in the diet to keep the digestive system in good shape. A lack of fibre causes problems such as constipation and irregular bowel movements, or worse.

Fibre-rich foods such as green leafy vegetables create optimal digestive health by assisting friendly gut bacteria. Certain fruits are also high in fibre. One of these is the banana.

Amazingly, the nutritional content of bananas varies with levels of ripeness. In the unripe state, bananas contain more digestive-resistant starch, which is ideal for optimal gut health.

However, most people prefer to eat sweet, fully ripened bananas, and tend to shun those that appear rather green. Indeed, that an unripe fruit is 'healthier' than a ripe one is counterintuitive.

The sugar content of fruits tends mimic their nutrient content. The sweeter the fruit, the more vitamins and minerals are contained. So, sweetness levels generally indicate fruit quality.

However, getting vitamins and minerals are not the only reason why we eat fruits. Dietary fibre is equally as important, and unripe bananas are best for that because of the higher levels of digestive-resistant starch they contain.

Fibre can be either soluble or insoluble, but for health, the fermentability of the fibre is most important. Digestive-resistant starches have low viscosity and therefore resist digestion in the small intestine. Instead, they ferment slowly in the colon.

Resistant starches are prebiotics, feeding healthy gut bacteria. The slow fermentation means less gas is released. They also bulk up stools and help to maintain regular bowel movements.

Because digestive-resistant starches are indigestible, they do not cause spikes in blood sugar levels. Indeed, they help to improve insulin regulation, reducing the risk of insulin resistance.

Mango and papaya are two other fruits high containing digestive-resistant starch when unripe. Vegetables with this beneficial fibre are lentils, white beans, potato and tapioca starch, and brown rice flour.

For ordinary white potatoes - which raise blood sugar levels quickly - cooling them in the refrigerator actually alters their molecular structure, turning a bad food into a healthier one containing digestive-resistant starch.

Green bananas are practically all starch - up to 70 to 80 per cent dry weight. Most of this starch is digestive-resistant starch, which works wonders for treating diarrhoea. As the they ripen, the starch turns to sugars such as fructose.

Green papaya are rich in antioxidants, fibre and an enzyme called papain. This enzyme aids protein digestion and eases inflammation. But be careful: unripe papaya contains latex, to which some people are allergic.

As for unripe mangos, the Langra variety contains as much vitamin C as nine lemons or three oranges, on top of digestive-resistant starch. The acids in these green fruits boost bile secretion, act as an intestinal antiseptic, and as a liver tonic.

However, try not to eat more than one unripe mango per day because of the risk of throat irritation and indigestion. Also, never drink cold water immediately after eating green mango because the water coagulates mango sap, which can cause irritation.

There are differences in the paleo diet and the Mediterranean diet. Paleo diet 1 thousand years older than the Mediterranean with nutritional benefits of mother nature design.

Caveman Diet or Paleo diet is over 10,000 years. Paleolithic diet is currently the modern Paleo diet. Paleolithic people were Caveman and cavewomen. There was no agriculture and wild animals roamed freely. Paleolithic was agriculture. Paleolithic diet was no milk animals were domesticated. Potatoes and cereals were excluded from their diet, because all raw foods and toxins cereal content of potatoes were eaten when raw.

- High consumption of fruits and vegetables.

- Olive oil and certain vegetable oils.

- Lean meats, poultry and fish

- Nuts and seeds

- eggs

- Red Wine controversial in the Paleo diet.

The Mediterranean diet comes from Mediterranean countries. These countries are: Italy, Greece, Crete, southern France and Spain. There is a high consumption of fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains and olive oil. Replace red meat with seafood or poultry. Red wine in moderation. The food varies from country to country in the Mediterranean. The principles are the same:

Beans and legumes contain soluble fibers - when more and removed by the grabs cholesterol from the intestinal tract before being absorbed into the body. In Beans lower cholesterol reduces the risk of heart disease.

- Red meat and dairy products replaced with poultry or seafood.

- Red meat is consumed in very limited qualities.

- A maximum of four eggs per week.

- Potatoes and rice

- The red wine consumed with moderation.

The foods in the Mediterranean diet and closed the Paleo diet.

Paleo and Mediterranean diet are very similar, but excluding foods make a significant difference in the two regimes.

Dairy products: Dairy products are not allowed in the Paleo diet, but authorized in the Mediterranean diet. During the Paleolithic milk has not eaten, because the animals had not been domesticated. Dairy product in high saturated fat cream, cheese and butter. Milk contains exorphins antinutricionales.

Bean and Legumes: not allowed in the Paleo diet but allowed on the Mediterranean diet beans. Legumes include navy, kidney, string, black beans and pinto, chickpeas (garbanzo beans), lentils, carob, licorice and peanuts. It is generally believed that the peanuts are family relatives. Peanuts are legumes, not allowed in the Paleo diet. Soy allergy can spread to the legume family to other foods. Soy allergies and peanut allergies are common. In any allergies to a doctor should be sought for treatment and nutrition advice.

Rice and potatoes are excluded from the Paleo diet.

After the Paleolithic was the Neolithic Age, or agriculture. The man was able to plant seeds for cereals, the fire has been controlled to a boil. no poisonous plants were eaten by the Caveman. Cooking killed several toxins that make this edible food. Cooking does not kill all the toxins. Toxin in cereals, potatoes, beans and rice retain some anti-nutrients after cooking. Dairy contains up more nutrients. Corn, wheat, potatoes, rice, vegetables and dairy products excluded Paleo diet.

Anti nutrients

- Exorphins: Anti-nutrients in dairy products and wheat. Morphine acts to counteract the production of bodies of the chemical nature of endorphins.

- Lectins: anti-nutrients, the body's immune system as a result of evasion of immune diseases. Lectins are found in corn, wheat, rice, potatoes, legumes (especially peanuts and soybeans) and milk.

- Enzymes Blockers: can block the body's natural enzymes in the stomach, small intestine and the forces of the stomach. For a long time, in the pancreas of the constraints of the production of natural enzymes cause. Food: corn, wheat and potatoes.

- Glycoalkaloids: anti-toxin is not destroyed when the potatoes are cooked.

The Paleo diet excludes these cooked foods that still have low levels of toxins or anti-nutrients.

excluded for nutritional reasons wheat, dairy products and soy in the Paleo diet. Furthermore the Paleo diet is an excellent choice for those who need gluten health fitness products, dairy products and dietary soy diet.